Daily Archives: August 5, 2017

Rwandan President Paul Kagame greets the crowd after addressing supporters at the closing rally of the presidential campaign in the capital, Kigali, this week. Kagame has been in power 23 years and is expected to win a third term. Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Rwandan President Paul Kagame greets the crowd after addressing supporters at the closing rally of the presidential campaign in the capital, Kigali, this week. Kagame has been in power 23 years and is expected to win a third term.

Some people walked hours to get to Shyira. They trekked down the steep hills that surround the small town in northern Rwanda last month not only to celebrate Liberation Day, but to get a close view of the country's president, Paul Kagame.

As music rose from the speakers, Kagame emerged from the behind the stage, a small man wearing his trademark black rim glasses.

The crowd went wild they waved; they sang; they screamed. At least there, you would be hard-pressed to find any detractors.

Angelique Nakure said Kagame has built schools and hospitals and he would do even more if wins a third term.

"Kagame is the best president," Nakure said.

In Rwanda, many consider 59-year-old Kagame a national hero. He's the man who, 23 years ago, rallied a beleaguered group of rebels and marched into the capital Kigali to oust the government. While the international community just watched, his troops ended a genocide that killed some 800,000 people.

As Rwandans go to the polls to elect a president Friday, there is little doubt that Kagame will be re-elected.

But as he nears two decades in power, Kagame is in the midst of a mixed legacy: that of a leader who has ushered in peace, stability and progress and that of a brute with little patience for dissent.

'People Have A Reason To Fear'

Frank Habineza, a 40-year-old politician, has tried for years to run for president as the candidate for the Democratic Green Party. But he says the government citing security concerns had blocked him from registering his party. This is the first election in which the Green Party is recognized, and Habineza made it on the ballot.

Sitting in his small office in Kigali, he says one should be very skeptical of what one hears on the streets of Rwanda.

"Rwandans are afraid of their government," he says.

When he tried to run for president in 2010, his deputy ended up dead and two of his colleagues ended up in jail. Fearing for his life, Habineza went into exile.

"We are beaten, our people imprisoned, others exiled," he says. "So basically, when people see all that, people have a reason to fear."

It's also not just political repression. Recently, Human Rights Watch issued a report that found Rwandan security services deal with petty crimes ruthlessly. The group found that one man was shot three times for allegedly stealing a cow; another was executed by the military for stealing bananas.

That version of Rwanda is definitely not what you see on the surface. Under Kagame's tenure, Rwanda has made significant strides toward becoming a middle income society.

Roads are paved; streets are lit. The GDP has grown more than 1,000 percent since the genocide; life expectancy has shot up, from 28 years during the genocide to 64 years in 2015, and Rwanda has become one of the least corrupt countries on the continent. It's a place where all state employees post their supervisor's cellphone outside their office, and public officials are fired if they don't meet the stated goals in their performance contracts.

"Kagame has put Rwanda on another map today," says Albert Rudatsimburwa, a political analyst and an unapologetic fan of Kagame. "When he took over, he transformed a whole defeat into a success story."

Rudatsimburwa thinks Kagame is misunderstood. To him, Kagame is the last liberation leader on the continent, following in the footsteps of Yoweri Museveni in Uganda and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

"Except Kagame has learned from their mistakes," Rudatsimburwa says.

The political analyst is certain that Kagame doesn't plan to stay in power as long as Museveni or Mugabe, who has been in power for 37 years. But he says that Kagame also understands that Rwanda is fragile, still recovering from the kinds of tribal divisions that led to the 1994 genocide. Demanding the same kinds of freedoms that mature democracies enjoy, he says, is naive.

"Those democracies are based on an accumulated wealth that makes things run anyway so that people can play political games," he says. "This is not where Africa is and certainly not Rwanda."

'We Deserve Freedom'

Diane Rwigara, a 35-year-old accountant turned politician, lives in nearly the same neighborhood as the presidential palace.

A tall concrete wall surrounds her house, and when this reporter arrives, she asks if she can borrow his phone. She says she can't call friends from her phone line anymore because they're afraid they'll be linked to her.

"In Rwanda, you are guilty by association," she says.

Rwigara tried to run for president, but she says the government first shamed her by leaking naked photos of her and then put up insurmountable procedural hurdles.

For example, she had to collect signatures from supporters across the country to get on the ballot. But she says state security agents would show up beforehand and intimidate people. She says they told supporters it was treason to support her campaign.

"It's very dangerous," she says. "But the truth of the matter is people are tired. People are ready for change."

President Kagame declined NPR's request for an interview, but during a recent press conference he was asked directly about Rwigara's allegations.

He chuckled and then issued a couched condemnation.

"Let me assume what you are saying is correct," he said. "If anybody was denied their rights, it's absolutely wrong."

Rwigara says she is sure, if an election were free and fair, she could be president. She wants Rwandans to be able to question government policies. She says she wants Rwandans to be able to express views on simple things like whether farmers should be able to choose what crops they plant or whether the government should have spent millions building a state-of-the-art convention center.

"We deserve freedom," she says. "We're no different than any other human being. Like I said, that's just insulting to me to think that we need to be told what to say and what to do."

What's clear is that Kagame will go on to win a third term. In 2015, 95 percent of Rwandans voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that extended the president's term limits. Under that new constitution, Kagame can serve until 2034.

Continued here:

Rwanda's Kagame Has Ushered In Peace And Progress, And Crushed Dissent - NPR

CHICAGO Max Scherzer arrived at Wrigley Field on Friday morning with the intention of throwing his first bullpen session since cutting his start Tuesdayto one inning. He didnt, but not because hes still dealing with major discomfort in his neck. Instead, Scherzer and the Nationals postponed the session until Saturday and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is preparing to start Monday in Washington against the Marlins.

We were like, we can just throw a bullpen tomorrow when Im truly 100 percent because Ive made progress every single day, and in 24 to 48 hours its going to be completely gone, Scherzer said. So no ones even concerned, really. Its just doing what we think is best to make the start on Monday.

Scherzer said he visited a chiropractor for an adjustment. Some residual stiffness remains, but he insisted it should be alleviated with medication and treatment in time for Monday. The Nationals wrestled with the idea of starting Scherzer on Sunday, which is his regular turn, butdecided not to.

An ace not missing a start is always uplifting news for a club, but its particularly vital for the Nationals given their rotation disorder. In addition to Scherzers early departure, Joe Ross was lost for the season, Stephen Strasburg is on the disabled list, and Gio Gonzalez isprepared to leave the club for the birth of his second child.

The muddle meant the Nationals werent ready to announce who would start Saturday and Sunday against the Cubs after Tanner Roark started Friday. Manager Dusty Baker provided clarity Friday morning, announcing that Edwin Jackson will start Saturday and Erick Fedde will get the ball Sunday.

Fedde was optioned Wednesday, but he will be recalled to replace Gonzalez on the roster when he goes on the paternity leave list. It will be his second career start; he allowed seven runs over four innings against the Rockies on Sunday.

Strasburgs return, however, remains unclear. The right-hander, who was placed on the disabled list on July 27 with a right elbow nerve impingement, said he was scheduled to throw a bullpen before Fridays game, but he didnt know when he would throw the simulated game Baker has said is planned for him. Strasburg revealed that he had an increasingly tough time recovering between starts before exiting after two innings against the Diamondbacks on July 23.

It was adding up, Strasburg said.

Strasburg, however, did say he has made significant progress in recent days, but with a 12-game division lead, the Nationals arent in any rush.

I feel better about it now than I did a few days ago, he said. But we want to make sure Im 100 percent. If this was the last game of the season, Id be out there. But we want to make sure Im right.

NATIONALS (63-43) Brian Goodwin CF Howie Kendrick LF Bryce Harper RF Daniel Murphy 2B Anthony Rendon 3B Adam Lind 1B Matt Wieters C Wilmer Difo SS Tanner Roark RHP

CUBS (57-50) Jon Jay CF Kris Bryant 3B Anthony Rizzo 1B Willson Contreras C Ben Zobrist 2B Kyle Schwarber LF Jason Heyward RF Javier Baez SS Kyle Hendricks RHP

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Max Scherzer preparing to start Monday, Stephen Strasburg making progress - Washington Post

BOURBONNAIS Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is entering his third year with the Bears. Only two maybe three of his starters can say the same.

Theres a limit to the Bears sense of continuity entering a must-win season, but Fangio is hoping last season provided, at least for a while, a sense of momentum.

I thought for the most part we played hard, hung in there tough under adverse situations and were really, in some ways although the record sucked making progress, Fangio said Friday at Olivet Nazrene University. But then the last three games ... the dam broke on us.

The Bears allowed 109 points in those three games and lost by a combined 51 points.

Thanks to the team signing two new starting cornerbacks and at least one safety in the offseason, Fangio has reason for optimism though he wont say it.

When youre coming off 3-13, you dont have the right to predict anything, he said.

That includes his future.

Fangio is heading into the final year of the three-year contract he signed shortly after coach John Fox was hired. He said hes not worried about his life beyond this season.

Obviously, every year has an effect on what happens, good or bad, he said. Im just hopeful someone will want me next year, thats all.

Including the Bears?

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. For sure. Oh, yeah, he said. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. Im not looking to go anywhere.

Fangios continued presence thats six straight yeahs, for those keeping score would be a boon for the Bears. He has had a tremendous influence on Leonard Floyd, the Bears first-round pick from a year ago, who could be a Pro Bowl edge rusher as soon as this season.

Willie Young and Lamarr Houston each transitioned from defensive end during Fangios first year and are happy to see him taking a more hands-on approach with the position group he knows best, outside linebacker.

When you have the guy who invented all of this giving you that information, its simplified, but its clearer, Young said. And that makes a big difference when you have a guy like myself transitioning from a 4-3.

Fangio said his outside linebacker focus hell work alongside first-year coach Brandon Staley, the position coach is nothing new. Before becoming a pro coordinator, he coached the Dome Patrol, the notorious Saints linebacker corps that sent four players to the Pro Bowl in 1992.

His secret: explaining to the players why theyre asked to do certain things.

I just like having it hands-on and hearing it come from my mouth, he said. They hear the whys and the reasons for everything we do.

Fangio said the Bears got a little spike in talent but know they need difference-makers. Hes not sure what to expect from Pernell McPhee, who started training camp on the physically unable-to-perform list and had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Floyds main candidates to pop: Floyd, defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks and, he hopes, either cornerback Prince Amukamara or Marcus Cooper. If half of those players hit, the defense will be improved.

We stress knowing what to do, do it the right way, and play as hard as you can, he said. If were talented enough, well have good results, and thats it.

Follow me on Twitter@patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

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'Not looking to go anywhere,' Bears' Vic Fangio to build on progress ... - Chicago Sun-Times

Detroit was mentioned this week by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber as one of four cities that have advanced their efforts over the summer to secure an expansion team.

His comments came during a webcast news conference before the MLS All-Star Game in Chicago on Wednesday.

The league, which is in final talks to add Miami as a market, plans to expand to four more cities in coming years, and Detroit is one of 12 cities that are part of the formal expansion bid process.

Garber said had specific praise for the efforts by Detroit, Cincinnati, Sacramento and Nashville.

Locally, billionaires Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores are jointly seeking the Detroit team, and made progress in securing their preferred location the unfinished downtown jail site when Wayne County announced on July 31 that it intends to work with them on a deal instead of finishing the justice facility.

"Detroit just got one step closer to having access to the jail site," Garber said. "That got a lot of energy and attention in Detroit."

The league has told Crain's that it has monitored the success high-profile soccer events in the market, including the recent International Champions Cup match that drew 36,000 fans last month, crowds of more than 100,000 at Michigan Stadium for ICC matches, and the ongoing crowds of 5,000-plus for semi-pro Detroit City FC in Hamtramck.

MLS intends to award two expansion teams during its league meeting in December, then two more some time after that.

"We'll conduct lots of meetings and have got an enormous amount of work over the next couple of months to get to the final two," Garber said.

The other cities with formal expansion bids, which had to be submitted by Jan. 31, are St. Louis, Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, San Antonio, Raleigh, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix and San Diego.

Ultimately, MLS will have 28 teams. Los Angeles FC begins play next year as the 23rd club and the unnamed Miami team launches for the 2019 season. After that, the next two expansion teams are expected to begin play in 2020. It's unclear when the final two expansion clubs would formally launch.

The expansion teams awarded in December will pay $150 million each to join the league. A fee for the final two clubs hasn't been formally announced.

New MLS owners aren't buying franchises. Instead, MLS is a single-entity business, meaning all teams are owned by the league and all players are its employees rather than employed by the club. MLS pays the players. Team "owners" pay an investment fee to MLS for the right to operate a team in a geographic area. They become league shareholders rather than franchise owners in a league that has publicly acknowledged it remains unprofitable.

Teams keep their own books and budgets.

Gilbert and Gores unveiled a $1 billion plan in April 2016 to build a 22,000-25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium on the jail site, and the project would include towers for residential, retail, and office use.

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MLS: Detroit among 4 cities to make progress on expansion team efforts - Crain's Detroit Business

The Duval County School District has 118 teacher positions to fill... just over a week before school starts.

Jason Rantala, WTLV 7:21 PM. EDT August 04, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Duval County School District has 174 positions to fill just over a week before school starts.

Duval County teachers jammed inside the Teacher Supply Depot Friday morning, the first of the monthly events meant to give teachers free supplies they need during the school year.

While Public School Number Ten, the home of the free supply giveaway, was packed to the brim, staffing at the district itself is not.

"We have a hard time keeping teachers," saidWolfson biology teacher Rashara Dubose.

Dubose is one of several educators who told First Coast News the district, as a whole, needs more teachers.

"We have teachers, we just don't have nearly enough, so sometimes it's a struggle with class sizes and things of that nature," Dubose said.

S.A. Hull Elementary teacher Markecha Bibbins agrees.

"That does have an impact on the schools, especially the kids, because there's no teachers to teach them," Bibbins said.

According to Duval Schools, 118 of those 174 openings are from teachers who were fired for either not pursuing a teaching certificate this year or for not completing it. This year's number is an improvement over last year at this time, when openings within the district of more than 8,000 teachers was more than twice as high, at 316.

A Duval Schools spokesperson said the district is working actively with school principals to fill the vacancies. Right now, positions are 98 percent filled.

Compared to Duval, St. Johns County Schools has 61 vacancies and roughly 2,500 teachers.

While Dubose would like to see more teachers, she recognizes the work the district's made to hire.

"Class sizes have gone down. I've seen a lot of administration go out and work to go find teachers that are certified and able to work with students," Dubose said.

2017 WTLV-TV

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Duval teachers: Hiring shortage remains, despite progress - First Coast News

Firefighters appear to have made progress on one of two wildfires burning in Skagit County.

The Burnout Road Fire on Chuckanut Mountain and the Suiattle Fire northeast of Darrington are burning a total of about 263 acres, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

According to an update from Natural Resources, firefighters benefited from an increase in humidity and calmer winds to make significant progress late Thursday and early Friday in fighting the Burnout Road Fire.

The first thing is to knock down the flames, and weve done that, said Michael Krueger, spokesman for the Natural Resources incident management team.

Whats left, he said, are coals and embers. Crews now need to move in from the perimeter and comb the embers to make sure they dont spread.

Its called mop-up, Krueger said. Its tiring, its dirty, its tedious.

The fire, which is about 6 miles southwest of the trailhead for South Lost Lake Trail in Larrabee State Park, is now 60 percent contained, according to a Natural Resources update Friday morning.

That means firefighters are preventing the fire from spreading along 60 percent of its perimeter. The amount contained is up from 50 percent Thursday afternoon.

The fire size is estimated at 63 acres the same as Thursday and about 154 firefighters are working on the fire.

The Suiattle Fire, which was discovered July 30 about 9 miles northeast of Darrington, was more active late Thursday than it had been the previous two days, according to an update from Natural Resources.

Heat and difficult terrain continue to make it difficult for crews to attack the fire directly, which is now listed at 200 acres and 15 percent contained.

Though the size of the fire increased by 20 acres since Thursday afternoon, containment increased from 10 to 15 percent.

Fire crews, equipped with bulldozers, will continue to shore up containment lines and to mop up and remove brush as they go.

The causes of both fires are under investigation, according to Natural Resources.

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Progress made on Burnout Road Fire, while Suiattle Fire still burns - goskagit.com